With Chief Executive Officer Dave Filoni and Lucasfilm Executive Vice President Lynwen Brennan set to take over the Star Wars franchise, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy is on her way out.  Kennedy has been president since 2012 and oversaw the franchise’s return to the silver screen, along with the introduction of Disney+ to the world.  Now with her time almost up, she dove into some upcoming projects that appear to still be moving forward at the studio.

Even though the sequel trilogy spearheaded by Kennedy divided fans, it’s hard to deny the continued monetary success and cultural impact the franchise holds.  With plenty of rumors and scripts over the past couple of years, Deadline questioned Kennedy on what projects are still in active development. With directors like Rian Johnson and Simon Kinberg having come up in some form or fashion in talks to lead a new trilogy, Kennedy was quoted more directly about directors and writers who have penned scripts for a future Star Wars project.

Jim Mangold and Beau Willimon wrote an incredible script, but it is definitely breaking the mold and it’s on hold. Taika has turned in a script that I think is hilarious and great. It’s not just my decision, especially when I’ve got a foot out the door. Donald Glover has turned in a script. And as you have read, Steve Soderbergh and Adam Driver turned in a script written by Scott Burns. It was just great. Anything’s a possibility if somebody’s willing to take a risk.

Just a few months ago, there was a massive outpouring of support from the fandom to bring the Scott Burns script to life.  Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh’s The Hunt for Ben Solo would consist of a full redemption arc for Driver’s Solo following his sacrifice in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It is unclear how Solo would be alive, as it wouldn’t be a prequel, but this is likely a contributing factor in Disney having no current interest in the project, with Kennedy herself pointing to it being on the “back burner.”  The soon-to-be former president had similar things to say about James Mangold and Beau Willimon’s Dawn of the Jedi script, a film that would take place 25,000 prior to the Skywalker saga.  The scripts that seem at least somewhat closer to becoming a reality come from Taika Waititi and Donald Glover.

One project Kennedy didn’t have anything to say about is Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s untitled New Jedi Order project.  Announced in 2023, the film would be set 15 years post The Rise of Skywalker and star Daisy Ridley in her return as Rey Skywalker.  Ridley has been quoted as recently as December discussing the project, putting her confidence behind the creative team involved.  

The previously mentioned trilogy that Rian Johnson was developing hasn’t been active in quite some time as a result of his dedication to the Knives Out franchise.  Kennedy herself also believes that due to the mixed reviews and backlash for his directorial work on Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Johnson was fearful to return to this world. Kennedy had more to say about Scott Kinberg’s trilogy, highlighting that not only do Filoni and Brennan have faith in Kinberg’s vision, but Kinberg is also actively working on treatments for the story.  Lucasfilm is said to be expecting somewhat of a concrete vision from Kinberg in the next few months, and if this trilogy were to move forward, it would inevitably be a decade-long endeavor for the studio.

Kennedy clearly has a lot of love for this franchise and studio, but she revealed why there’s no space for certain projects and ideas in this current landscape.  

I remember when I came into this job, the first thing Bob Iger said to me was, ‘Be bold.’ I’ve always liked that because I think you have to be bold and you have to be willing to take risks with people and with ideas. Otherwise you are just doing the same thing… Everything I just reeled off to you is taking a bit of a chance because none of those filmmakers are just walking in trying to do same old, same old. I’m excited by that, but the studio’s nervous about that, and that’s kind of where it sits at the moment.

All this being said, Star Wars fans still have plenty to look forward to in the very near future.  The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to release in theaters on May 22, 2026, the franchise’s first new installment hitting theaters in seven years.  The second season of new co-president Dave Filoni’s Ahsoka series will be hitting Disney+ later this year.  Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, will be the first franchise film to take place following the sequel trilogy and is set to release on May 28, 2027.

Kathleen Kennedy didn’t close any doors in what could be called her exit interview, going back to the importance of creatives not being afraid to take risks in the world of Star Wars.  For any future updates and news as Lucasfilm starts a new chapter, follow along with us at MXDWN.